P.M. NEWS MONDAY 6-2-14

Governor Cuomo will push for an increase in the state’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Cuomo also will advocate a plan that would allow local governments to set a minimum wage up to 30 percent higher than the statewide rate. Currently, the minimum wage is $8 an hour & is set to increase to $9 an hour by the end of 2015.

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State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today announced a settlement with Coachmaster of Broome County to resolve an investigation of the limo service failing to pay tips to drivers. The limo service retained the tips illegally for “administrative purposes”. The settlement requires the company to pay $20,000 in restitution to workers and a $20,000 civil penalty, and also to comply with state laws.

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State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli reports that New York State may not see the economic boom from 4 new upstate casinos, as the new facilities could simply shift gamblers and jobs away from existing facilities. The state Legislature & voters approved a proposition to allow up to 7 privately owned casinos, starting with 4 initial ones in economically struggling areas of the state. There have been 20 bidders to the state’s Gaming Commission for the 4 casino licenses to be placed in the Southern Tier, Albany area and the Catskills. The winning bids are expected to be decided in the fall.

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The Broadway Theater League announced the next year of blockbuster shows coming to Binghamton. Tina Niles of NAC Entertainment told WCDO News what shows are coming:

(Tina Niles 6-2-14)

Niles said that information about the individual shows is available at Broadway In Binghamton.com

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U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is pushing to prevent child predators from landing jobs centered near kids. A recent child porn bust in New York City sparked the move, where a boy scouts leader and a little league coach were among those arrested. Schumer is pushing for stronger background checks for potential employees of summer camps, day care centers, and similar clubs and organizations, to make it possible for employers to access FBI databases. Under current law, most children’s organizations only have access to the state database.

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Environmental activists delivered more than 50,000 comments to the Cuomo administration, urging officials to recast the state’s energy plan, with strategies for burning less fossil fuel & lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The comments to the draft plan issued in January, urges officials to reject additional natural gas drilling, calling instead for a stronger push for renewable and cleaner solar and wind power. The 2014 draft, from the state Energy Planning Board, said it’s meant to put New York on track to reduce emissions and their impact on climate change. The plan calls for an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from by 2050.

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New York’s 529 college savings program has translated thousands of accounts with millions of dollars for college related savings. State comptroller Tom DiNapoli said that the program is a great way to save up for a relatives college fund, in the first 5 months of this year; there were 100,000 direct savings accounts with 2.9 billion dollars in assets. More i9nformation is available at nysaves.org.

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Broome County Executive Debbie Preston made an appearance at the Broome county office building Friday. Preston had surgery in May for lung cancer in at Sloan Kettering in New York City; she has been recovering at home, but has also been working from home through phone calls & Skype. Preston may face additional Chemotherapy, and has no plans to resign as county executive.